satan's "church"

[Guest man]

Usually we think of religious hypocrisy being the only sin Jesus targeted. It wasn't.

But He did target that sin and spoke out against it. Shouldn't we at least try to follow in His footsteps?

How is hr's intentionally provoking the exposure of sinful attitudes in others hypocritical?

You tell me. You're the one who brought it up.

[nebula]

You tell me. You're the one who brought it up.

You are the one who's jumping on his case.

[Fez]

I agree. Serving The Lord is my priority. The Lord works through me to minister to and help reach many lost and hurting people. Do I always handle things perfectly? No. My hearts desire is to serve Him.

I will now tell you a little more about the people who run the store. They are drug dealers. The main reason they hate me hanging out in the store is because it costs them money becuase they can not sell dope when I am there. We have busted them several times over the years. The fact that they further dislike me because I am of another race only makes them more irate. The woman who runs the store is an ordained pastor. She "pastors" a church, sells dope, and runs a night club that regularly has shootings and stabbings in it. I must admit that annoying her does bring me genuine satisfaction. Because she is black? No! Because she is a hypocrite and uses religion to spread racism and as a front for her drug running. I have sent her to prison three times. Me hanging around her store makes her irate, and I must admit I enjoy every second of it.

Good for you. It's good to have goals.

But what does it prove? Makes her irate and you feel good. I'm here to tell you that you feeling good does not impress God one iota.

If Paul had "hung around Rome to make the Romans irate", where would we be today? Ok, he did make them irate, as did Jesus, but why not follow their example. hang around with love, and pray while you are doing it. You can do that, and be aware of your surroundings. Jesus did it in the garden, Nehemiah did it on the walls of Jerusalem.

Note he says "so we prayed to our God and set up a watch". They were wearing swords while they worked because the Arabs wanted to kill them. But they prayed first, then watched. And it worked out very well for Nehemiah! He did what he had to do, through a very dangerous situation, but he did it by obeying scripture, and loving the Lord.

Blessings

[Guest man]

You tell me. You're the one who brought it up.

You are the one who's jumping on his case.

Do you find this behavior and attitude acceptable. Regardless of who owns that store and what takes place there, are we as christians, justified in stirring up the spirit of animosity in others simply because we don't like them or for entertainment value?

Have a look at 1 Corinthians 13.

There is a store where I work that will not sell to white people. Sometimes I go in on duty and hang out just to annoy them.

I kind of find entertainment value in their stupidity.

[nebula]

But what does it prove? Makes her irate and you feel good. I'm here to tell you that you feeling good does not impress God one iota.

If Paul had "hung around Rome to make the Romans irate", where would we be today? Ok, he did make them irate, as did Jesus, but why not follow their example. hang around with love, and pray while you are doing it. You can do that, and be aware of your surroundings. Jesus did it in the garden, Nehemiah did it on the walls of Jerusalem.

Note he says "so we prayed to our God and set up a watch". They were wearing swords while they worked because the Arabs wanted to kill them. But they prayed first, then watched. And it worked out very well for Nehemiah! He did what he had to do, through a very dangerous situation, but he did it by obeying scripture, and loving the Lord.

Blessings

Ah - now we are getting somewhere.

You see, man's "rebuke" wasn't any better than what hr.jr. was doing. Was it? (And yes, man, I am speaking to you in this.)

So, what you are saying to hr.jr. is to look past provoking and work towards how he can win souls to the Kingdom through the provoke. Yes?

[nebula]

You tell me. You're the one who brought it up.

You are the one who's jumping on his case.

Do you find this behavior and attitude acceptable. Regardless of who owns that store and what takes place there, are we as christians, justified in stirring up the spirit of animosity in others simply because we don't like them or for entertainment value?

Have a look at 1 Corinthians 13.

There is a store where I work that will not sell to white people. Sometimes I go in on duty and hang out just to annoy them.

I kind of find entertainment value in their stupidity.

Fez presented a better case.

Personally, I wish I could laugh at such things.

But sometimes, people do need to have their pots stirred before they can come to the place of repentance.

[Guest man]

You see, man's "rebuke" wasn't any better than what hr.jr. was doing. Was it? (And yes, man, I am speaking to you in this.)

You're right, that's exactly what I was doing.

I am not an under achiever.

I was not un-popular in school.

I was actually the star athlete and was very popular.

Dated pretty much any girl I wanted to.

I am still very well respected in my home town.

I am also not an osterich with my head in the sand.

My best friend is black.

My wife is white.

I most obviously have no animosity against either race.

I treat all people fairly.

If you take criminals out of the audience you poll, you will find that most everybody on my beat likes me.

The kids love me because I take the time to hang out with them and actually do try to make a difference in their lives.

When you antagonize someone for the sake of your own entertainment, everything you just stated means nothing. You may very well be everything you stated, but your attitude casts a shadow over all your achievements. The Lord isn't going to overlook your shortcomings because you were popular. He doesn't care how many friends you have or what color they are. What He's looking at are the contents of your heart. He searches your inner being to see who you really are, not just who you say you are. You can't hide from Him.

The Lord tells us we are the light of the world. How bright is that light shinning when we set out to sow discomfort in the minds and hearts of others?

1 Corinthians 13

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Fez presented a better case.

I didn't know it was a contest.

[Guest man]

You tell me. You're the one who brought it up.

You are the one who's jumping on his case.

Do you find this behavior and attitude acceptable. Regardless of who owns that store and what takes place there, are we as christians, justified in stirring up the spirit of animosity in others simply because we don't like them or for entertainment value?

Have a look at 1 Corinthians 13.

There is a store where I work that will not sell to white people. Sometimes I go in on duty and hang out just to annoy them.

I kind of find entertainment value in their stupidity.

Fez presented a better case.

Personally, I wish I could laugh at such things.

But sometimes, people do need to have their pots stirred before they can come to the place of repentance.

Is that a yes?

[nebula]

No, it wasn't a contest, man.

However, the way you responded to hr.jr. only provoked him towards needing to defend himself rather than actually making him think about how he could turn the situation around to shining the light and love of God.

[Guest man]

No, it wasn't a contest, man.

However, the way you responded to hr.jr. only provoked him towards needing to defend himself rather than actually making him think about how he could turn the situation around to shining the light and love of God.

Does the defense justify the actions?